Upland Winter Cress

An easier-to-grow alternative to watercress – and you don’t need running water to grow it! Preferring moist, but not wet, it does well in a well-fertilized and irrigated garden bed in sun or part shade. Plant seedlings around 6-10” apart and let them grow to 4” tall rosettes before harvesting, then pick off leaves for salads or use in herb mixes like chimichurri. If cutting, make sure to leave the central stem intact, so it can keep producing. The flavor is more peppery than watercress, and delicate palates should taste accordingly. Or alternatively prepare it the Southern way (called Creasy Greens) - cook the pickings like collards or kale. Lots of minerals and vitamins like C, A and K. Blooms on 12-24” flowers stems with yellow flowers – but do not eat the leaves during this stage, as they will be bitter. Harvest the tasty flower buds instead. Upland Cress is best planted in the cool weather of early Spring or in the Fall. Also known as Winter cress.